PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1864, 19 September 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

legislative COUNCIL,

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. The Oounoil met at 2 30 p m. The Juvenile Offenders and Salo of Explosives Bills wero read a third time and passed-

NATIVE LiNDS,

Hon. T. K. Macdonald resumed the do bate upon Hou. J. D. Ormond's meliou for an extended return of uativo waste land. Ho criticised the apvhy of the Native L .nd Department, nnd ibo up stay of thn people, especially in tbo South Island, respecting tho question t f dealing with native land. It was not the fault of tho Maori, who leprtssnted 5 p.r oont. of the population, but of Burtp tans, repro aenting 95 pec cent,, that millions of aorta woro lyirg unutilised and returning nothing to tbo revenue, livery Mauri c tild had a right to share in this land, and ho nskod bad not the Europeans a right to share in it also ? Tho present position oould not possibly continue. To overoemo Ibe diffiou’ty tbo first process was to Bweep away tho multitude of Acts relating to native lands. Then every aero of land the titles to whiob had rot boon iudividu.alised should bo taken over by tbo Crown. A Ootnuiission should then report upon tho valuo of the whole of the lands, nnd as to wbioh should be reserved for residential purposes. Twenty notes would be sufficient for each native, and one million Rotes wonid givo this area t> every Mso - i. Tout would leave between three and four milliou aores wh'oh weio snitailo for setilttnent, aud which would give a fair return to those who lock up the land. Wtien tbo value was esiimated Government should issue to ids through tho Pubiio Trust Office for the amount, which should rrmaiu in trust until the Maori titles wore soitiod, and the interest should bo given to the holders of the land. Ho oontendod ibat tbo polioy of dealing with tho Maori lands by a Maori parliament and Maori boards has proved a complete failure, and it was ueosssßry to adopt a policy such as ho bad suggested to enable Europeaus «e set* 1 > upon the available lands of the oniony. Ho doubled, however, if the present Native Minister would be able, owing to the peonliarities of his poai ion, to give efieot to such a policy, Hop. Mahuta entirely agreed with Mr Macdonald in his propuail forsw6‘piDg away the old native land laws and establish a new law to enable tho lauds to be thrown open. Hon. J IVgg, who omsiJo ol the motion by Mr 0 mood had been b oughs down under falsß praler.cas, drew attention to the apparent ignoraDoe of the fact that a dpfini'.s native laud policy wis outlined in the Budget—a bettor policy than that outlined by either the mover or Mr Mao donald. It would, be said, be impsrs b!o to deal with tbD whole question in one measure. The Attorney-General dsolined to refer to Mr Ormond’s referenoe to the general land polioy, on the ground that it was contrary to iho Speaks.'s ruling to do so, but on the native land question ho stand that Me Ormond had expressed approval of many peinis in the Land Ao> of las! year, and had approved of the polioy enunciated by Mr -- Saddon. He defended the Nvlivo Minister from the accusation of apathy, and quoted siat s ios to show that a great deal had reoently been done towards acquiiing native iaQds and iodividnali'iDg titles, He had no objection to the motion, but it must be understood that in voting for it ho in no way subscribed to the views of tho mover. Hon. J. D. Ormond having replied, the motion was carried on the voioas. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2 30 p.m. PRIVATE BUSINESS, The Church Property Trust Amendment Bill aud the Roman Ca'bolio Bishop of AuoklaDd Empowering Bill were read a second time, Leave of absmoe was given for four dayß to Mr T. Mackarz o on urgent publio business.

FIRST READINGS

The Otago Presbyterian Chu-ob Board Property Consolidation Bill, Odblow Borongh Drainage Empowering Bill, and Petone Borough Ssteeis Bill were read a first time.

SUPPER ADJOURNMENT

The Premier moved “ Thai ih3 usual supper adjournment at 980 ptn bo dis' continued for tbe remainder of ibo eossioD.” He held that the experience of the last few weeks amply justified the mw departure, adding that there was no mention of rising at 11, because he feit sure if doe diligence were observed all buainesa in future would be over by 11 o’clock. If by any chance business were ever obstructed they would of course have to ait beyond that bour. Mr Harries waa sorry that the motion bad been brought forward iu tbs abe oe of so maoy members o' bctb Bidis, and was careful to say tbers never would be any obstruction from his side of the House. Mr Mills urged the passing of aupper aa quite nnneoeaaary. The motion waa agreed to on the voices.

THIRD READINGS. The F.re Brigades Bill, Payment o l Jorora Bill, Habitual Criminals Bill, and Horowhenua Block Amendment Bill were read a third time.

MAORI LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT AND LANDS AMENDMENT BILL.

This Bill was taken in ocmmii'ee, and passed through with amendments made by the Native Affairs Comornttor, GOVERNMENT ADVANCES TO SETTLERS AMENDMENT BILL. The adjeu-oed dabats on the BBoond reading waa tskeo. Rlc Jannicg3 ooodemaed the poor fees providad fur valuators iu la gs districts of difficult travelling. Mr Hogg waa highly phased with tbe provision far making further advances ■without further deeds. Mr Fiatmin askol for more unitor--410 Mr Laurenson would like to see the total abolition of the go«betweon lawyer. Mr Wilford could not conceive such a possibility. ... S r Joseph Wa-d ropiifd, promising to consider if tbe provisions of the moaeu-e could not be extended to the Maori people, and thanking bon. members for the reception the Bil 1 . Tne Bill was react a second time on the voicep.

tourist and health resorts CONTROL BILL.

The Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, ia moving the second reading, explained that tlho Bill eves Chiefly a machinery Bid for the bs-te, ana more 7 uniform control of the whole

tourist system. . Mr Herries, far from opposing the Bi thought it was a pity It did not go further, and get a ohaooa of doing useful work. He thought the head of the Department, So he admitted to bo an excellent tom.* Lent, was too much away from the colony. Ho consider! d that she want of organisation and discipline leqoirod a rity. He c itioised the “anagemen. r Botorna. He said that it would bemuca better if the place were made a “ UQ pality, and that it oould not be wo.so ina 46 SiXeph Ward : M.ke a suggestion for the Committee stag?. Mr Laurenaon warned ‘be House against too much onoouragement of a do “MfK 9 -ged more protection for “beauty apots,” and thought tba tourists who think of nolh , log o „ b “ and pastime ought not to be jn . to the detriment of the produomg£ horests, which deserved first considaratn on He thought more ought to bot done at •Rotorua and other Sanatorium old and the infirm peojb of the oolony. Mr Allison was surprised at the > senti ■ments just expressed about tho ®o assorted the tourist Iraffio X.. _ ■f (tillable {o the country. Ho dented it

■la any way demoralising, lie liopod tiio llouso would not bo to hoar any more snob oriticisius. Mr Eil protested against tlio indisoriminaio introduction of wild animals for the attraction of tourists, and advocated the protcotiou of tho native bird lifo of the country. LIo admitted, in aus'.vor to an i lterjection of the Premier, that Nsw Zealand has done more than any other p'fioi in tho wor d in this matter, but while o ngratul ,tiog tho Minister on that, ho thought tho protective measures should g) very muoh further Mr SnailWJrthy would lilto to see provision made fjr bringing moro mineral waiors, Holonsaillo springs to wit, under the control of the O. parttnent. Mr Rutherford, while not asking for anything bln the sa.do of tho Rjsorua txponditure, thought something more should bs d;no for Hanmor than is now done.

Me Hull suggested mo;o f.-oo bods at R.iterua, Mr Wif rl urged Iho Usvornuiont to 1 buy the " Sp i ” at l’aupa and iho Wa-ra-kri dis re; bee ruse tourists nro now proventolb, ’out! joalousies from seeing both those pho os, whioh nro the most interesting in the whole thermal district. Ho also urged Government to take the launohos on the lakes and bring down the o'l: rgos, whioh nro at presrnt prohibitive. £Io oriiioisod discrepancies in tho salaries of oUiosrs of tin Tou ist Department, Mr B. nnett wonted mere freo bods. Mr Marnier suggested acquisition of tho Kamo springs, ami defended tho tourists. Mr Greooslado wanted a bettor road to the Waitomo caves. Mr Poland considered To Aroha tho best suia’crium and the linost beauty spot in tho colony, ani suggested its treatm-mt accordingly. Mr Fiatman feared tho intro luotion of noxious animals such os tho brown boar. Ho hoped tboro would not bo noy oppressive game laws. Ho thought much of tho tourist traffic. After further discussion Mr W. Fraser reminded tho House that the Bill was merely on administrative measure. Tho fact did not justify reference tc all tho bogs and blowholes of tho country. Mr Barber hoped that Government would not forget to secure all foreshoros. Toe Premior, in reply, pointed out that there serrned to bo much apprehension about the Tourist Department. Tho Department was not responsible for the introduction of deer, and it had nothing wha'over to do with foreshores, o: wita annexing springs and other thing?. Much non-reuse was talked about stalking as tho exolusivo amusement of the globe t otter, but the Department koew of ils own knowl dge that for every outside stalker tbo-o are 50 Nsw Z Zanders There was an idea of gross extraveganoe, but iho oost of the Department was L 4003, it eiv.iod L 16.000, and the ltwcst esimite of the annual tourist expenditure set it down at L 450.000, As to animals, brown bear?, blue bears, yellow bears, or any other wild animal, the Tourist Department never asked for the introduction of a single wild animal. As for free bod?, the Government had as rnuoh sympathy for Che poor as nay meaibor of the House, and had done a good deal for them in Bravery matter, and hon, members might have said so while they were about it. EVENING SITTING, Tbe House resumed at 7 30. The Hon. the Premior, continuing, referred to what had been said üboir. Rotorua. He sa‘d that at one time the place was nc ually valueless. S nee then muoh money has been spent on ti e water supply, lighting, drainage of th 3 grounds, improvements to various springs, streets, roads and bathing establishment?, The Rotorua people had had the benefit of a'l these thing?, and had never had to pay a rate. For his pact ha thought they were very lucky people. lad.el, his hon, friend who represented the plees wanted tho whole of tbe benefits to be handod to the citzsns without their paying anything, or beiDg rated or pie lging them* selves in any way. He did not blamoths hon. gentleman. On tho contrary, hi commended him for playing a gma understood by both sides, but the House must not take it for erit’eism of Rotorua, which was a very up to-date place indeed, Referring t) Mr Donne, who bad, ho told ■be Hou e, done eo much for tbe Department, organi-iog, etc , and bring ng is upto dale. Ha defended that gentltman frem the insinuations in the dsbato, aod told tbe House that he hid r.otived several offers fr.-m Australia and Am.rioa of better salary, iu one ois9 amounting to TI2OO a year, for his services. JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL. The Bill was received from the Legislas tive Council with amendments, consideration of which was referred to next sitting day

SALE OE EXPLOSIVES BILL. , The Bill was received from the Council, and read a first time. TOWN DISTRICTS BILL. The second reading of tho Bill was moved by the Premier, who said it was greatly needed Air Thomson supported the Bill, as putting an end to dual authority, and the ensuring of tho maintenance of the main roads passing through these town districts. Air Eraser and Mr It. McKenzie do-, nounced the Bill as likely to enable small hamlets to create county rates and prevent the maintenance of country roads Mr Field oon'onded that there would bs hardship, but ths Bill wou'd on the whole be very beneficial. He pointed out that the provision makiDg 50 householders necessary (o the formation of a lown district was a qoile good enough safeguard against tho evils feared bythsprevois eposksrs. Mr Ell suggestsd giviag these districts the municipal franchise; I Mr Mills regarded tho district) as municipal education. Mr Fialman knew town distriols which had been rstod by county oounoila whioh had not spent one penny of their rates Withia their boandarieo. Mr Bu beiford supported, and Mr Horries opposed the Bid, both from the , county point of view, and the latter poin ed out tho oonfliot of the by-lawi suro to follow the unlimited formation of town districts. The Premier, in r-ply, said that if thoro were anything in the argumrnts employed no municipality would ever be evolved from a oounty, whereas as a matter of fact there wore a gr;at mmy. One hon. | gontleman who opposed the Bill had a Counties 811 in his pocket. Othors had asked for a Local Government Bill, end they always opposed such a measure. He told the House that the Local Government Bill-would be down this session, but oould net bo expeoied to go through. Ha appealed to hon. numbers to say whether this Districts Bill, whioh was askod for far and wide, ought to be kept back for the • other?, Tho Bill W:S read a second tuns on tho i voices. LOCAL AUTHORITIES SUBSIDIES i BILL.

Tho Premier moved tho secend reading Flo explained that the Bill limits the sub sidiea tn bo paid annually to local bohes to £IXO,OOO, to bo alloea'ei on tho prin ciplo of tho higher tho rate (all rat;a togather) the higher tho eubeidy. Mr Allen feared tho Bill would not produce tho desired effect, and urged ita refer once to a oommittee, He agreed that tho old practice woe very unfair. Mr Barber objected to tho maximum limit for boroughs of £330 ai too low, and pointed out that the aggregate limit might m-iio the individual limit much lower m praotie?. Wellington would lose LIOO a year at least. , . Mr Symoa said other locrl bodies would suffer similarly. _ , Mr Remington calculated that in the Ransrt'kei County there would bB a lose of £350. . , T The Premier, into-] -soting, said till Bomiugton was wrong, as the said su.> sidies were much lose than h 3 had p aced “’"Mr Maeeoy thought the county oauocde would all get io=s under the Bil . He thought that the subsidy began and ended ton soon at the farthings. Voice : It ought to be Id. ulr Massey agreed with 2d. no urged tho reference of the Bill to a Committee. Messrs Izard, B. McKenze, and Fuller oDDOsed the Bill on thß same grounds. P Mr Bil said that und.r the Bill more money would be divided, £IOO,OOO, aea'nst £83,000 of last year. Tre Bil. w ß ould not give anv subsidy to any local hedv raising Isas than a penny. IVor discussion the Premier, »p reply,

“hawed from n return, that no loonl body hmi over arrived at more Umi £20,000 in tbo past, and that therefore there would bo no roduotion. Tho largo oitioa would o rtu'uly imllor, but to drolnrc Unit all r. und iborn would bo u roduotion in tho A o', i f tbo XIOO,OOO limit was to boat tbo wind Ho saw no ambiguities or dilti tuition, but ho would bo quito prepared to

submit ttio mm-nro to n Oomuiittro

viow of its importance, and ho would givo in tioo of tbo Committee tiro mxt day or tbo :oy aftor. Tho a< ootid reading piasrd on tlio voieoi, and tho Prcmiur gave formal uotioo of the Ooumutso-. TRAINING RBI PS BILLS,

Too second loading of this Bill, brought down from tho L"gi-ilstivo Council, wan moved by tbo Procnior, who explained tho provisions briefly. There was a brief di-ouisioo, end tbo seo.md reading of tho Bill was outdid od tbo voices.

COAL MINES AMENDMENT BILL Tho Bill was rood « second tiiuo pro foriun, oud offerod to tho Qoldfidds and Minos Commitioo. Tho Homo adjourned at 1.1.20,